PaulC

Sounds like a load of bollocks from Lawrenson. For a start if we can't get 25 mil for him why should we sell him to Arsenal.

sorry didn't see your post before i posted mine.

Yes loved the film.

Sorry I'm not much of a movie buff and hardly know who's directing what, i do know that I like a lot of Alfred's films though don't know if he's made my all time favourites, just he's made the most that I like, if that makes sense. Yes I think I've seen nearly every Hitchcock movie. The master of suspense. Favs, possibly strangers on a train, vertigo, rear window. Treated his leading ladies like shit though according to Tippi Hedren. and destroyed her career. She did Birds and Marnie and I'm not sure she acted since.

Is that the one where one of the main characters is a paedo? Yeah, there's a scene where he has to explain what he's done to his son which is equal parts heart breaking, disgusting, appalling, and hilarious. Maybe the last bit less so, but. Happiness truly stretching the boundaries. Real black comedy. Great film by a one of my favourite directors Todd Solondz. Love the characters played by Philip Seymour Hoffman and Jane Adams. Life during wartime is happiness 2. Check out some of his other films "Welcome to the dollhouse" "Storytelling", warhorse etc

Yes Hadlee was a great as well. Boycott puts Steyn up there! Guess we have our favourites and Steyn has been my fav since he was with Warwickshire. Also ranked no.1 in the world for 4 years until Philander just displaced him. Steyn might have the no.1 spot back after this last test though! If I was pushed to name the greatest fast bowler of all time I would say Malcolm Marshall.

Though I agree that some of Warne's success is undoubtedly down to who was at the other end a lot (perhaps the same could be said of McGrath's?), Warne's wickets didn't just come from people hitting out against him in frustration, did they? He took the wickets of people trying to bat carefully against him, often when bowling round the wicket at right handers. It's not the number of wickets taken by Warne that puts him in list of top talents for me but the fact that I haven't seen his like playing test cricket before and can't envisage seeing it again. McGrath, whilst a top class bowler, sits in the same kind of group as Donald, Hadlee, Ambrose, Walsh, Akram and so on for me. All the ones on that list are still slower to 350 wickets than Steyn. Warne is the greatest spinner of all time. Mcgrath whilst being a huge part of Australia's success will never be rated as one of the all time greats imo. He's like Pollock! Mcgrath sr 51.9 Steyn sr 42 Donald sr 47. That to me is the most important stat when it comes to bowling.

Steyn the 2nd fastest player to 350 test wickets behind Murali

Saw him a lot when he was at Warwickshire in 2007. He's small and lightweight for a fast bowler, but when he cranks it up he can be seriously quick and swings it both ways too. Mcgrath yes!

Yes Marshall. I think we should include Dale Steyn as a great. His SR is right up there and this is in era where wickets are probably flatter although reverse swing wasn't really around when Thomo and Lillee were playing.

Kallis will go down as one of the greats but he's not a player you'd really pay your money to go and see though is he! Stats alone put him right up there. Flawless technique and temperment with his batting. Never flustered but generally scored quite slowly unlike De Villiers. In his younger days he was a quite a quick bowler up there about 90 mph. I'm sure Trott moulded himself on Kallis.

At the end of all this I wonder if this will be one of Lambert's biggest weakness at Villa. Yes as a manager you have lots of new ideas and you want to bring in players to fit the system, but a trait of a good manager is to work with what you have got. Nzgobia and Ireland (as much as I dislike his lack of professionalism) do have ability, probably more than most of the starters at present. It is the managers job to motivate and get the best out of you squad, and Lambert did not do this with the existing team he inherited. It was awful team to inherit, but Nzog is a decent player and offers different skills than what we have at present. To be fair he was starting to show something last season. He's one of the high earners so guess he's one of the bomb squad but that doesn't mean Lambert shouldn't use him when fit. Compared to Tonev he's a footballing genius.

Vlaar is the key to our defence and Benteke to our attack. I agree the midfield isn't good enough.

Whether you rate him or not my original point was it was a bit silly Lambert selling him without getting another CM in. Its an area of the pitch we have been weak for some time. Bannan is no world beater but he has more talent than some of Lambert's signings. And i do think he has contributed to Palace's improved form. He's not the star man and never will be and maybe after the January window he won't figure as much.

Played over 80 minutes yesterday. If he was that poor he wouldn't start every game.

Well he'd come to us on loan just so he can get a game time. Whether we would pay his wages is more the question!

and how can you say AstonMarton82 that he his failing under Pullis. He's a regular in the team and results/Performances have picked up. They were unlucky yesterday not to get something at man city.

No he's part of the Man city first team squad. Can't see it being Young either

I am just wondering whether that exciting loan player could be De Bruyne. Obviously he's not getting a game at Chelsea and he would give our side such a lift and be playing alongside his fellow countryman and getting himself back into form for the world cup.

Excellent post HH. Its really helpful to know the facts.

Yes because it's not like we actually watched the full-match is it? It was only a game involving Aston Villa... He isn't when played in the wrong position, no. Con never watches Villa though he vomits his opinion on everyone every week. Bannan is not fast enough to be on the wing. Not strong enough to play behind the front. So his best position would be a deep lying midfielder which is exactly where Lambert played him to get the best out of his strength - passing. Unfortunately his strongest attribute is still no where near Premier League quality. His passing is still better than Delph, Sylla and KEA'S. Maybe Westwood is a more consistent passer but not this season because without Bannan he's the one that has to play the killer ball.

They did look tired today. But a couple of dodgy ref decisions in both games have cost them.

They were still shit against Norwich. They are not the same side and won't be ever again. I think they will be in and around Arsenal and Liverpool for the foreseeable future with Man City and Chelsea way out front of the rest of the league, just through spending power. I think Arsenal will stay the course this season. I don't know if they will win it but they will go close. Next three games. Cardiff H, Villa A, Fulham H 9pts.

I think Arsenal will finish at least 10 pts ahead of United.

Yes but United have had an easy run of games lately so the gap between them and Liverpool is bound to close.